BY ROSALYN ALBANIEL

PNG Air’s brand was recently selected as one of the world’s top 12 airline liveries by CNN Travel.
The recognition earned it a place among major airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Iceland on CNN’s list.
This was announced by the airline’s chief executive officer, Muralee Siva, at a breakfast meet hosted by the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Royal Papua Yacht Club, in Port Moresby yesterday.
Mr Siva was invited by POMCCI to give an update of the firm’s operations.
Mr Siva had hailed the recognition as a major endorsement of the firm’s successful rebranding.
The exercise had seen the firm take on a new outfit with a major refleeting exercise of brand-new ATR’s phasing out the aging Dash Eight aircrafts previously operated.
The CEO said the brand was developed from research the firm had conducted across the country.
“The decision was made to develop a brand identity that linked to as many areas as possible to celebrate the diversity of PNG but also to embrace the communities we serve.”
“The reaction to the new brand has been overwhelming from these communities,” Mr Siva said.
“We have always maintained that neither new aircraft nor the name change would not make us a new airline. It was the commitment to change and a renewed focus on what was important-our people, our shareholders and our customers – that will make us a successful airline,” Mr Siva said.
The CEO said that the airline’s network reached has increased over the past few years together with its passenger numbers and market share.
He said with the 6th ATR due to arrive the company’s plan is to become a 100 percent ATR operator in the longer term, further improving is operating economics.